…can you end up spending the evening in a pub with two Irishmen and a homeless guy you just met. But more about that in just a moment. I’ll tell you how I ended up there in a bit.
In case you are one of the unaware, I was in San Francisco for the Blogher Food 2009 Conference. I was lucky enough to have Nasoya sponsor me for the trip. I totally appreciated it! Because of Nasoya I was able to enjoy San Francisco and the Bay Area and have a great time meeting people and learning new photography tips.
Turkish Coffee Ice Cream
When I registered for the conference, I decided I wanted to drive up the coast of California and use the time to reflect and think. I stopped along the way in Santa Barbara for wonderful freshly made ice cream and in San Luis Obispo for a 1/2 sandwich and salad. I also drove by my childhood home and neighborhood in San Jose and my college campus in Santa Clara.
All said and done, it took me 12 hours to get to San Francisco. Near the hotel there was a pub full of people so I went in and ordered a Guinness and some food. I’ve recently discovered that you can’t be a woman alone at a bar without a man coming up to you no matter how uninterested you look. And I’ve tried to look uninterested, usually by being deeply engrossed in a book.
After being seranaded by a guy who wouldn’t leave me alone {that’s another story for another day}, an Irish guy came up to the bar and ordered 3 Guinness {Guinnesses? Guinni? What’s the plural?} and 3 whiskeys. He saw I was alone, said something about me being cute, and invited me to sit with his friend and a homeless guy he found on the street. It sounded fun, so I did. I’m all about new experiences…anyway it turned out to be a fun evening with a great conversation. It was definitely a cool start to a fantastic weekend.
I need to detox from all the good food and drink I consumed over the weekend. Instead of just Vegan Tuesday, I’m eating vegan all week. Well, all week until Friday night when I’m back in Las Vegas. 
I used Nasoya Organic Extra-Firm Tofu to make Mark Bittman’s Braised Tofu and Peas in Curried Coconut Milk from his How To Cook Everything Vegetarian. It was an easy weeknight dinner and reheated well for my work lunch. I ate it over brown basmati rice. YUM!
You can find the recipe HERE.
you had a very interesting adventure there… love that yellow placemat!
Ciao ! Wow you drove a long way ! I wish I could go back to Santa Barbara some times !Do you live far from there ? (not in las vegas ?) That braised tofu looks great ! I wish we had the choice you have with tofu we only have one kind !
What an adventure. It was so fun hanging out with you. We must do it again:)
What a fun adventure even before the conference started!
Sounds like a very interesting time! Need more details!
~ingrid
Such a fun life you are leading!
I am in love with that Turkish coffee ice cream. Could you introduce us?
Wow – call me crazy but that sounds like a lot of fun. As for this dish, looks like a GREAT way to help cleanse the body.
You are so much fun, I never know what I am going to read when I come over here! The recipe looks great…I need to figure out how to cook more of these things…you have a way of making them all look so wonderful.
Anything with broccoli and coconut milk has to be good!
What a great story about your first evening in SF! Enjoy the detox before the retox.
I have been to that ice cream shop…it rocks….glad you had fun at the conference..I want to go next year!
Work it, girl! You are certainly making up for lost time – no doubt about it.
What a fun experience and how cool that Nasoya sponsored you.
Wow, it sounds that you had lots of fun
Nice pictures!
That tofu looks amazing! I’m stopping by Trader Joe’s on the way home to pick up the goods and make it for dinner. Thanks, Wendy!
What a great read and photos. I wish I could have gone, but have enjoyed reading about yours, and everyone’s experiences. I’ll be there when it comes to NYC
Jealous, jealous, jealous! It all sounds amazing, from the food to the people. Glad you had such a wonderful time.
Sounds like you had an amazing time, yay for Guinness
Never a dull moment in CA!
Glad I got to meet you, even if only for a sec. I didn’t realize you were going to be there, or I’d have tried to get with you more! Next time.
San Francisco is full of really interesting people. I’m so glad that you had a fun trip!
Ha! Sounds like you had a great time!
How lucky for your trip to be sponsored, that’s great!
Nope I can honestly say that I would have never been approached. But hey I am living vicariously through you. What a cool experience. Wow I would love to know more about how the homeless guy got there and how everyone interacted, etc, Very cool. Good gats I am impressed by your daringness! Wonderful.